🕐 Clock Comparison

A 12-hour clock uses AM and PM and goes from 1 to 12. A 24-hour clock goes from 00:00 to 23:59 — no AM or PM needed.

☀️🌙 12-Hour Clock

12 3 6 9 1 2 4 5 7 8 10 11 e.g. 3:30 PM

Uses AM and PM. Goes 1–12 twice per day.

🌍 24-Hour Clock

24-HOUR 15:30 No AM or PM e.g. 3:30 PM = 15:30

No AM/PM. Goes 00–23. Always 4 digits.

Matching examples

12-Hour Time AM/PM 24-Hour Time When?
7:00 AM ☀️ AM 07:00 Morning
12:00 PM 🌤 PM 12:00 Midday / Noon
3:30 PM 🌤 PM 15:30 Afternoon
9:45 PM 🌙 PM 21:45 Evening
12:00 AM 🌑 AM 00:00 Midnight

📋 Key Rules to Know

☀️ AM — Before Midday

  • AM means after midnight and before midday
  • Examples: 1:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 11:59 AM
  • In 24-hour time, AM hours look similar but have a leading zero

🌙 PM — After Midday

  • PM means after midday and before midnight
  • Examples: 1:00 PM, 6:45 PM, 11:59 PM
  • In 24-hour time, PM hours (except 12 PM) add 12
  • 24-hour time does not use AM or PM
  • The day starts at 00:00 (midnight) and ends at 23:59
  • Always write 24-hour time with four digits, e.g. 07:05 not 7:5

📌 Conversion Rules at a Glance

  • ☀️ AM times — Keep the hour the same. Add a zero if the hour is 1–9. E.g. 8:15 AM = 08:15
  • ☀️ 12:00 AM — Special case! Change to 00:00
  • 🌤 12:xx PM — Keep as 12. E.g. 12:30 PM = 12:30
  • 🌙 PM times (1–11 PM) — Add 12 to the hour. E.g. 4:20 PM → 4 + 12 = 16 → 16:20
  • Going back to 12-hour: if hour > 12, subtract 12 and add PM. E.g. 19:10 → 19 − 12 = 7 → 7:10 PM
  • If hour is 00, use 12 AM. E.g. 00:25 = 12:25 AM

⏱ 24-Hour Timeline Explorer

Drag the slider to move through the full 24-hour day. The display below shows both time formats for wherever you land.

🌍 24-Hour Time
08:00
Hours run 00–23
☀️ 12-Hour Time
8:00 AM
Morning

📝 Step-by-Step Worked Examples

Example 1 — AM to 24-hour

Convert 6:30 AM to 24-hour time

  1. It is AM
  2. The hour is 6
  3. Add a zero before the 6
  4. Keep the minutes: 30
✅ 06:30

Example 2 — PM to 24-hour

Convert 2:45 PM to 24-hour time

  1. It is PM
  2. The hour is 2
  3. Add 12: 2 + 12 = 14
  4. Keep the minutes: 45
✅ 14:45

Example 3 — 24-hour to 12-hour

Convert 19:10 to 12-hour time

  1. The hour is 19
  2. 19 is greater than 12
  3. Subtract 12: 19 − 12 = 7
  4. It is PM (afternoon/evening)
✅ 7:10 PM

Example 4 — Midnight (00:xx)

Convert 00:25 to 12-hour time

  1. The hour is 00
  2. 00 means the midnight hour
  3. Use 12 for the hour
  4. It is AM (after midnight)
✅ 12:25 AM

🔄 Interactive Converter

Try converting times yourself. Type a time and press the button.

☀️🌙 12-Hour → 24-Hour

Result appears here

🌍 24-Hour → 12-Hour

Result appears here

✅ Practice Quiz

Answer all 15 questions. You'll get feedback straight away. Good luck! 🎯

Question 1 of 15
Score: 0
The Workshoppilot